Resolving cross-border issues between Ireland and Northern Ireland as a result of Brexit is one of the main areas where progress is required before EU leaders can agree to move to the next phase of the negotiations

By Harry Cole, Westminster Correspondent

17th November 2017, 3:12 am

Updated: 17th November 2017, 3:17 am

THERESA May will today hold showdown talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar over the Irish border crisis – as he demands Ulster remains part of the single market post Brexit.

It follows the Sun’s revelations last week that the Taoiseach was hardening the EU’s line under pressure from Sinn Fein.

Reuters

Theresa May to hold talks over the Irish border crisis

Boris Johnson is also off to Dublin for talks with his counterpart.

Mrs May will meet Mr Varadkar on the margins of a major European summit today following Brexit talks with Sweden’s prime minister Stefan Lofven last night.

Gothenburg is hosting leaders from across the European Union to promote fair jobs and growth.

The PM will use the visit to push her counterparts to agree next month that sufficient progress has been made in the first phase of the Brexit talks to move on to vital tradee talks.

PA:Press Association

Theresa May will hold showdown talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as he demands Ulster remains part of the single market post Brexit

Resolving cross-border issues between Ireland and Northern Ireland as a result of Brexit is one of the main areas where progress is required before EU leaders can agree to move to the next phase of the negotiations.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said “you can expect Brexit to come up, along with other issues of importance”.

The Gothenburg social summit on Friday brings together political leaders and other key players to discuss issues including workers’ rights and how to promote fair economic growth.

Mrs May will take part in a working session on fair employment and working conditions and is expected to highlight the findings of the Taylor report published in July which examined the treatment of workers in the so-called gig economy.

She will tell fellow leaders “how the the UK is addressing issues head-on in relation to the way employment practices are changing and the opportunities and challenges this presents and to point out how we’ve been consulting with business groups, trade unions and wider stakeholders”.